Self contained seals



March 24, 19 59 L. M. DOLHUN SELF CONTAINED sEALs Original Filed May 15,1951 Nu N R Q k. K p

QQR NB INVENTOR. Zea/Zara A Fol/2:172,

United States Patent SELF CONTAINED SEALS Leonard M. Dolhun, Chicago,11]., assignor to Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Illinois Original application May 15, 1951, Serial No.226,415, now Patent No. 2,701,154, dated Februaryl, 1955. Divided andthis application January 4, 1955, Serial No. 482,373

Claims. (Cl. 2883) The present invention relates to seals of the typecommonly applied to a pair of relatively, rotatable parts for thepurpose of sealing these parts against the escape of lubricant or otherliquid, the undesired entry of dirt and foreign matter, etc. Inparticular, the invention deals with a seal for such an installationwhich is wholly selfcontained in character, in that it embodies in apreassembled unit both a sealing ring and a coacting mating ring againstwhich the sealing ring is resiliently urged for relatively rotativesliding engagement at the meeting surfaces of the rings when the seal isinstalled.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No.226,415, filed May 15, 1951, now US. Patent No. 2,701,154, issuedFebruary 1, 1955.

It is 'an object of the invention to provide a selfcontained seal of theforegoing sort in which the sealing ring and mating ring are each,individually mounted on a sheet metal casing member in a non-rigidrelation thereto, which casing members provide an external housing forthe seal enclosing its operating parts and have means for individuallyrestraining the respective sealing and mating rings in a positivemanneragainst rotation relative to one another and relative to the respectivecasing members.

Yet another object is to provide a seal which is very economicallyproduced and quickly and economically assembled as a whollyself-contained unit, as well as installed after assembly in operativerelation to a pair of relatively rotatable parts to be sealed, the sealbeing characterized by two telescoped casing members containing coactingsealing and mating rings, of which the latter is relatively looselydisposed in its casing member in order 2,879,093 Patented Mar. 24,

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the natureof the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent tothose skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the constructionand operation of the device.

An embodiment of the invention is presented herein 2 for purpose ofillustration, and it will be appreciated that illustrating the seal inan operative, installed relation to to avoid objectionably stressing thelatter as might occur in force-fitting, and is keyed by the casingmember against relative rotation, being axially sustained by the casingmember under spring force applied through the sealing ring. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a selfcontainedseal of the foregoing character, in which the two coacting casingmembers of the seal, each associated inlaterally enclosing relation toone of the rings referred to above, have axially telescoped portions ofsubstantial axial length and provision on said portions forinterengaging the same to prevent separation of the casings from oneanother prior to installation of the seal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a self-containedseal having axially telescoped, interena shaft and housing structure.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a seal incorporating the principles of theinvention. The outer casing member 50 is adapted to be force-fitted in arecess 51 of a part 52 with which the seal is associated. Casing member50 is shaped to provide a re-entrant annular channel 53 which receivesthe radially flanged outer rim .of an annular flexible diaphragm 54. Aseparate, terminally rolled clamp ring 55 is force-fitted within theelongated, axially extending portion 56 of casing member 50, engagingand clamping the rim of the diaphragm in the channel. The clamp ring islocked in place by an inwardly spun annular lip 57 on the right endmargin of the casing.

Casing member 50 continues from the channel portion 53 in a form of aradially extending wall 58 and terminates in a plurality of axiallydisposed, circumferentially spaced segmental locking lugs 59 ofsubstantial width, as illustrated in Fig. 1. These have axially slidableengagement in similarly spaced axial grooves 60 formed in the innerperiphery of the sealing ring 61. The outer periphery of the sealingring is provided with a circumferential groove or channel 62, in whichthe radially inturned margin of diaphragm 54 is fixedly clamped. Ring 61is preferably hardened only part way back from its running sealingsurface, leaving the zone adjoining groove 62 in ductile condition tofacilitate clamping of the diaphragm. The sealing ring 61 is axiallyguided on the locking fingers 59 during the operation of the seal, aswell as prevented from rotative movement relative to its casing member.

The aforesaid fingers 59 also serve to center in the space rearwardly ofthe sealing ring an annular finger spring 63 of known type,characterized by an inner annular body 64 and a plurality of resilient,circumferentially spaced spring fingers 65 which extend in a generallyconical arrangement from the body. The rounded ends of these fingersengage the rear of sealing ring 6110 maintain engagement of the latterwith a mating ring 66. Other types of spring, for example one in whichspring fingers are struck out from an annular body in acircumferentially extending series, may be substituted for finger spring63.

Mating ring 66 is relatively loosely received in the inner casing member67 of the seal, being disposed inwardly of an axially extending, outersleeve-like portion 68 of the latter. This sleeve-like portionterminates in a radially out-turned rim or flange 69 which is adapted tobe restrainingly engaged by the radially spun lip 57 of outer. casingmember 50, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus to restrain separation of thecasing members and associated parts when the seal is not installed.

Inner casing member 67 has a radially extending rear wall 70 whichaxially sustains the mating ring against the force of spring 63, therebeing a sealing gasket 71 interposed between the mating ring and thewall.

Casing member 67 is restrained from rotation relative to a sealed partwith which it is associated, for example, the flanged shaft hub 72 shownin Fig. 2, by means of a number ofaxially extending pins 73-secured tocasing wall 70. The forward extremities of these pins extend throughapertures in gasket 71 and are received in rear recesses 74 of themating ring; the rear extremities thereof serve to center an outersealing gasket 75 associated with the casing, and are received ininterlocking recesses 76 formed in the part 72.

Entry of dirt or foreign matter, or escape of oil or other liquidbetween the outer casing and sealing ring is prevented by the diaphragm.The running seal between the mating and sealing rings acts similarlywith regard to the opening between the casing members and the shaftspace internally of the seal. The seal is entirely self-contained and isresponsive without loss of eificiency to end play in operation of theinstallation. A minimum of parts is employed in the interest of lowproduction cost and the cost of installation is also maintained at aminimum by the arrangements described.

I claim:

1. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxial axially telescoped relation to said firstcasing member and adapted to be disposed in non-rotative relation to theother of said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having one margin of a flexible annularsealing diaphragm fixedly received therein, an inwardly directed radialwall formed integrally with said channel and being provided at theinnermost margin thereof with a plurality of axially disposed andcircumferentially spaced lugs, a sealing ring associated with said firstcasing member in concentric axially movable relation therewith, theinner periphery of said sealing ring being provided withcircumferentially spaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, saiddiaphragm being secured along its other margin to said sealing ring, amating ring axially abutted and sustained by said second casing memberin relatively rotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and springmeans intermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said casingmembers having means cooperating therebetween to prevent axialseparation thereof under the force of said spring means, said matingring and its casing member being provided with further means to preventrelative rotation therebetween.

2. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxial axially telescopcd relation to said firstcasing member and adapted to be disposed in nonrotatlve relation to theother of said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having a flexible annular sealing diaphragmreceived therein, one margin of said diaphragm being provided with aradially flanged outer rim fixedly clamped in said re-entrant annularchannel, an inwardly directed radial wall formed integrally with saidchannel and being provided at the innermost margin thereof with aplurality of axially disposed and circumferentially spaced lugs, asealing ring associated with said first casing memher in concentricaxially movable relation therewith, said sealing ring having its outerperiphery provided with a circumferential groove near the rear facethereof to fixedly receive the other margin of said diaphragm, the innerperiphery of said sealing ring being provided with circumferentiallyspaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, a mating ring axiallyabutted and Sustained by said second casing member in relativelyrotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and spring meansintermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said casingmembers having means cooperating therebetween to prevent axialseparation thereof under the force of said spring means, said matingring and its casing member being provided with further means to preventrelative rotation therebetween.

3. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxially telescopcd relation to said first casingmember and adapted to be disposed in non-rotative relation to the otherof said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having one margin of a flexible annularsealing diaphragm fixedly received therein, an inwardly directed radialwall formed integrally with said channel and being provided at theinnermost margin thereof with a plurality of axially disposed andcircumferentially spaced lugs, a sealing ring associated with said firstcasing member in concentric axially movable relation therewith, theinner periphery of said sealing ring being provided withcircumferentially spaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, saiddiaphragm being secured along its other margin to said sealing ring, amating ring axially abutted and sustained by said second casing memberin relatively rotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and springmeans intermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said springmeans including an annular ring received about the outer peripheries ofsaid lugs and being provided with circumferentially spaced resilientfingers engaging the rear face of said sealing ring, said casing membershaving means cooperating therebetween to prevent axial separationthereof under the force of said spring means, said mating ring and itscasing member being provided with further means to prevent relativerotation therebetween.

4. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively to tatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxial axially telescopcd relation to said firstcasing member and adapted to be disposed in non-rotative relation to theother of said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having one margin of a flexible annularsealing diaphragm fixedly received therein, an inwardly directed radialwall formed integrally with said channel and being provided at the innermost margin thereof with a plurality of axially disposed andcircumferentially spaced lugs, a sealing ring associated with said firstcasing member in concentric axially movable relation therewith, theinner periphery of said sealing ring being provided withcircumferentially spaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, saiddiaphragm being secured along its other margin to said sealing ring, amating ring axially abutted and sustained by said second casing memberin relatively rotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and springmeans intermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said casingmembers being provided at the telescoped margins thereof with axiallyoverlapping oppositely directed radial rims which cooperate to preventaxial separation thereof under the force of said spring means, saidmating ring and its casing member being provided with means to preventrelative rotation therebetween.

5. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively ro- 5 tatable parts,comprisingarr'annular casing made up of a first casing memberadaptedto'be disposed 'in fixed relationvto, one ofsaid parts, and asecond casing member mounted in coaxial axially telescoped relation tosaid first casing member and adaptedtobe disposed 'in non rotativerel'ationto the other of said'parts, said first casingmember beingshaped to provide a re-entrant annular channel having one margin ofaflexible an nularsealingfdiaphragm fixedly received therein, an inwardlydirected radial wall formed integrally with said channel and beingprovided at the innermost margin thereof with a plurailty of axiallydisposed and circumferentially spaced lugs, a sealing ring associatedwith said first casing member in concentric axially movable relationtherewith, the inner periphery of said sealing ring being provided withcircumferentiallyspaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs,-saiddiaphragm being secured along its other margin to said sealing ring, amating ring axially-abutted and sustained by said second casingfmemberin relativelyrotatable engagement with saidsealing ring, and springmeans intermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said casingmembers having means cooperating therebetweento prevent axial separationthereof under the force of said spring means, said second casing memberhaving -a radially extending rear wall axially sustaining saidmating'ring againstthe force of said spring means, at least one axiallyextending pin carried by said radial rear wall and having ends extendingtherethrough'on both sides thereof, one of saidends being received in arecess in said mating ring to prevent rotation thereof with respect tosaid second casing member, the other end cooperating with said partassociated withsaid second casing member to prevent relative rotationtherebetween. 1

6. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively r0- tatableparts,;comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member,adapted to be] disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a'second casing member mounted in coaxial axially telescoped relation tosaid first casing member and adapted to be disposed in non-rotativerelation to the other of said parts, said first casing member beingshaped to provide a re-entrant annular channel having one margin of aflexible an'nular sealing diaphragm fixedly received therein, aninwardly directed radial wall formed integrally with said channel andbeing provided at the innermost margin thereof with a plurality ofaxially disposed and circumferentially spaced lugs, a sealing ringassociated with said first casing member in concentric axially movablerelation therewith, the inner periphery of said sealing ring beingprovided with circumferentially spaced grooves for cooperation with saidlugs, said diaphragm being secured along its other margin to saidsealing ring, a mating ring axially abutted and substained by saidsecond casing member in relatively rotatable engagement with saidsealing ring, and spring means intermediate said radial wall of saidfirst casing member and said sealing ring to urge the latter againstsaid mating ring to maintain said mating ring in axial abutment with itscasing member, said casing members having means cooperating therebetweento prevent axial separation thereof under the force of said springmeans, said second casing member having a radially extending rear wallaxially sustaining said mating ring against the force of said springmeans, a sealing gasket intermediate said rear wall and said matingring, at least one axially extending pin carried by said radial rearwall and having ends extending therethrough on both sides thereof, oneof said ends being received in a recess in said mating ring to preventrotation thereof with respect to said second casing member, the otherend cooperating with said part associated with said second casing memberto prevent rel tive rotation'therebetween. 1

7. A selfcontained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing member made up of a first casingmember'adapted to "be disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts,and a second casing member mounted in coaxial axially telecoped relationto said first casing member and adapted to be disposed in non-rotativerelation to the other of said parts, said first casing member beingshaped to provide a reentrant annular channel having a flexible annularsealing diaphragm received therein, One margin of said diaphragm beingprovided with a radially flanged outer rim fixedly clamped in saidre-entrant annular channel, an inwardly directed radial wall formedintegrally with said channel and being provided at the innermost marginthereof with a plurality of axially disposed and circumferentiallyspaced lugs, a sealing ring associated with said first casing member inconcentric axially movable relation therewith, said sealing ring havingits outer periphery provided with a circumferential groove near the rearface thereof to fixedly receive the other margin of said diaphragm, theinner periphery of said sealing ring being provided withcircumferentially spaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, amating ring axially abutted and sustained by said second casing memberin relatively rotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and springmeans intermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said springmeans including an'annular ring received about the outer peripheries ofsaid lugs and being provided with circumferentially'spaced resilentfingers engaging the rear face of said sealing ring, said casing membershaving means cooperating therebetween to prevent axial separationthereof under the force of said spring means, said mating ring andits'casing member being provided with further means to prevent relativerotation therebetween. I

8. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxial axially telescoped relation to said firstcasing member and adapted to be disposed in nonrotative relation to theother of said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having a flexible annular sealing diaphragmreceived therein, one margin of said diaphragm being provided with aradially flanged outer rim fixedly clamped in said re-entrant annularchannel, an inwardly directed radial wall formed integrally with saidchannel and being provided at the innermost margin thereof with aplurality of axially disposed and circumferentially spaced lugs, asealing ring associated with said first casing member in concentricaxially movable relation therewith, said sealing ring having its outerperiphery provided with a circumferential groove near the rear facethereof to fixedly receive the other margin of said diaphragm, the innerperiphery of said sealing ring being provided with circumferentiallyspaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, a mating ring axiallyabutted and sustained by said second casing member in relativelyrotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and spring meansintermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said springmeans including an annular ring received about the outer peripheries ofsaid lugs and being provided with circumferentially spaced resilientfingers engaging the rear face of said sealing ring, said casing membersbeing provided at the telescoped margins thereof with axiallyoverlapping oppositely directed radial rims which cooperate to preventaxial separation thereof under the force of said spring means, saidmating ring and its casing member being provided with means to preventrelative rotation therebetween.

9. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising an annular casing made up of a first casing member adapted tobe disposed in fixed relation to one of said parts, and a second casingmember mounted in coaxial axially telescoped relation to said firstcasing member and adapted to be disposed in nonrotative relation to theother of said parts, said first casing member being shaped to provide are-entrant annular channel having a flexible annular sealing diaphragmreceived therein, one margin of said diaphragm being provided with aradially flanged outer rim fixedly clamped in said re-entrant annularchannel, an inwardly directed radial wall formed integrally with saidchannel and being provided at the innermost margin thereof with aplurality of axially disposed and circumferentially spaced lugs, asealing ring associated with said first casing member in concentricaxially movable relation therewith, said sealing ring having its outerperiphery provided with a circumferential groove near the rear facethereof to fixedly receive the other margin of said diaphragm, the innerperiphery of said sealing ring being provided with circumferentiallyspaced grooves for cooperation with said lugs, a mating ring axiallyabutted and sustained by said second casing member in relativelyrotatable engagement with said sealing ring, and spring meansintermediate said radial wall of said first casing member and saidsealing ring to urge the latter against said mating ring to maintainsaid mating ring in axial abutment with its casing member, said springmeans including an annular ring received about the outer peripheries ofsaid lugs and being provided with circumferentially spaced resilientfingers engaging the rear face of said sealing ring, said casing membersbeing provided at the telescoped margins thereof with axiallyoverlapping oppositely directed radial rims which cooperate to preventaxial separation thereof under the force of said spring means, saidsecond casing member having a radially extending rear wall axiallysustaining said mating ring against the force of said spring means, asealing gasket intermediate said rear wall and said mating ring, atleast one axially extending pin carried by said radial rear wall andhaving ends extending therethrough on both sides thereof, one of saidends being received in a recess in said mating ring to prevent rotationthereof with respect to said second casing member, the other endcooperating with said part associated with said second casing member toprevent relative rotation therebetween.

10. A self-contained seal for a pair of relatively rotatable parts,comprising a first annular casing member including a radially inwardlydirected wall portion joined with an axially extending portion forming apart thereof, said first casing member including means for mounting thesame in fixed relation to one of said parts, a second annular casingmember including a radially inwardly directed wall portion integrallyjoined with an axially extending portion along the outer peripherythereof, means for mounting said second casing member in fixed relationto the other of said parts, the axially extending portion of said secondcasing member being telescopically received within the axially extendingportion of said first casing member with both of said portions beingprovided with radially overlapping integral elements at the ends thereofto prevent axial separation of said casing members, a sealing ringreceived in said first casing member in concentric axially movablerelation thereto, restraining means associated with said first casingmember to prevent relative rotation of said sealing ring, saidrestraining means being in the form of a plurality of axial projectionsreceived in aligned openings in said sealing ring, a flexible annulardiaphragm secured at opposite margins to said sealing ring and saidfirst casing member, a mating ring axially abutted and sustained inunattached engagement with and by said second casing member and saidsealing ring and being in relatively rotatable engagement with saidsealing ring, spring means mounted between said first casing member andsaid sealing ring and acting axially therebetween to urge said ringsagainst one another and maintain said mating ring in axial abutmentwithin said second casing member, and means forming a part of saidsecond casing member and said mating ring to prevent relative rotationtherebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,321,871 Stevenson June 15, 1943 2,347,118 Matter Apr. 18, 19442,489,781 Isenbarger Nov. 29, 1949 2,500,898 Hastings Mar. 14, 19502,615,739 Vedovell Oct. 28, 1952

